This has enraged thousands of Americans.
In Norfolk, Massachusetts, a New England town of approximately 11,500 residents, tensions are running high over plans to repurpose a former state prison into a taxpayer-funded shelter for migrants. The Bay State Correctional Center, a previously decommissioned minimum-security facility, is being renovated to house migrants and homeless individuals who are currently waiting at Boston’s Logan International Airport for emergency shelter. The facility is situated on the grounds of the Massachusetts Correctional Institution (MCI), a medium-security prison.
The governor’s office has announced that the shelter is expected to be operational by next month and will serve as a temporary haven for homeless families. These families will need to meet 30-day engagement requirements and undergo monthly recertification to demonstrate efforts toward obtaining work permits, employment, and housing.
At a recent special Select Board meeting, around 300 Norfolk residents expressed their frustration over the lack of communication from the state about the new shelter. Concerns were raised about the potential impact on local schools, police, and emergency services, with residents pointing out that municipal resources are already strained.
John Semas, a local resident, voiced his opposition to the shelter, emphasizing that his stance does not reflect a lack of compassion. Semas, along with a group wearing “Save Norfolk: No Shelter” attire, criticized Governor Maura Healey for attending a climate change conference at the Vatican instead of addressing the concerns of her constituents.
The governor declared a state of emergency last summer in response to the influx of migrants into Massachusetts. The state has struggled to manage this crisis, partly due to its 1983 sanctuary city law designed to aid homeless families and pregnant women, which some argue does not extend to non-citizen migrants.
Jim Lehan, Chair of the Select Board, expressed his frustration at learning about the shelter plans through social media, highlighting the state’s lack of prior communication with the town. The state’s emergency assistance director, Scott Rice, assured that the facility, which can house around 140 families, remains in good condition and will offer amenities such as showers, bathrooms, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and spaces for children to play and adults to receive job training and English classes. The facility will be staffed around the clock, with transportation provided for the residents, and the razor wire on the perimeter fence will be removed.
While the cost of the shelter’s operation remains unclear, the governor’s office has committed to holding a community meeting before the shelter opens to address local concerns and engage residents who wish to support the shelter’s programs. Despite the backlash, some residents, like Lucy Bullock-Sieger, support the initiative, emphasizing the importance of aiding those in need and rejecting the notion of fear within the community.
The shelter’s opening has ignited a debate in Norfolk, reflecting broader national conversations about immigration, resource allocation, and community involvement in state decisions.